Handle soap sponge



April 14, 1964 T. PAUL 3,128,493

HANDLE SOAP SPONGE Filed Aug. 14 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR TAI DEUSZ PAUL ATTORNEYS Apfil 14, 1964 Filed Aug. 14, 1962 T. PAUL HANDLE SOAP SPONGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR TADEUSZ PAUL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,128,493 HANDLE SOAP SRONGE Tadeusz Paul, 2532 Ross Road, Apt. 102, Silver Spring, Md. Filed Aug. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 216,938 7 Claims. Cl. 15-542) The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application Serial No. 147,992 filed October 26, 1961, now abandoned, and entitled Handle Soap Sponge.

The present invention relates to a new and improved handle and sponge combination, and more particularly relates to a combined assembly consisting of handle and removable sponge in which the handle simultaneously serves as reservoir for liquid soap, detergent or the like, adapted to be selectively dispensed by compressing a squeezable end member.

Combined handle and sponge assemblies have been lcnown heretofore in the prior art. However, difficulties have been experienced in the prior art constructions to assure, by simple means, any undesired excessive flow of liquid soap from the container into the sponge. Additionally, the known prior art constructions also entail the disadvantage that the sponges thereof cannot be readily removed and exchanged for other sponges, either in case of wear of the sponge or in case of desirability for exchanging one sponge for another sponge with a different shape or for a different type of sponge. In particular,

,the prior art constructions are unsatisfactory to provide a sponge that can be readily interchanged yet is firmly seated in place during use thereof with the containerhandle member.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a handle-sponge combination in which the handle serves as liquid soap container or reservoir, and which prevents, by extremely simple means, the undesired continuous outflow of the liquid soap into the sponge during use thereof.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a removable sponge structure which is firmly seated on the handle in aligned relationship thereto after assembly thereon, yet may be easily removed for purposes of exchanging the sponge.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a handle and sponge construction which perwmits repeated use of the same handle with different sponges thereby increasing its versatility and enhancing the economic feasibility since the part normally worn out most readily, namely the sponge, may be replaced and a new sponge may be used with the same handle structure which normally outlasts the sponge.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a removable sponge of the type described hereinabove which may be covered with a removable plastic net case to enable use thereof as a scrubber.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a combined handle and removable sponge assembly fulfilling the aforementioned aims and objects by simple and inexpensive means that readily lend themselves to mass production techniques.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view, taken along line 11 of FIGURE 2, through a handle-soapsponge combination in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of the handle, by it self, provided with a squeezable cap-like end member and with notches for the engagement with complementary projections provided on the removable sponge, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective cut-away view of the removable sponge including its built-in elastic supporting frame provided with projections or the like adapted to engage with the notches in the handle.

The present invention essentially consists of an elongated hollow handle forming the liquid soap container which is closed off at one end thereof by a squeezable cap-like assembly and which is provided on the inside thereof with a small conduit system within the portion receiving the sponge for conducting the liquid soap from the container to the sponge; this conduit system consists of a first conduit section leading from the liquid soap container to the other end of the handle where it is connected by means of a semi-circular conduit portion with another conduit section leading back in the direction toward the container but of such shorter length that the supply of the liquid soap to the sponge through transverse bores takes place about in the center of the length of the sponge structure. The transverse bores, in communication with the shorter conduit section, provide discharge apertures for discharging the liquid soap into the sponge within apertured areas provided in the elastic spongesupporting frame when the sponge is properly mounted onto the handle. To assure proper alignment of the transverse communicating bores with the apertured areas in the sponge-supporting frame, appropriate complementary guide means are provided in the two parts consisting of the sponge frame and the sponge-receiving section of the handle.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate corresponding parts, reference numeral 3 generally designates therein the hollow handle which may be made of any suitable material such as plastic material and may be manufactured in any conventional manner, for example, by injection molding. The handle 3 is hollow and forms on the inside thereof the liquid soap container 3' of essentially cylindrical configuration. The liquid soap container 3' which is open at the top end thereof, as viewed in FIGURE 1, is hermetically sealed thereat by an elastic, squeezable sealing-cap assembly which includes a cylindrical end-closure member generally designated by reference numeral 2, also made of plastic material and adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the handle 3, and a squeezable cap-like member generally designated by reference numeral 1. For that purpose, the member 2 is provided on the inside thereof with threaded grooves 22" complementary to the external threaded portions 3" provided at the upper end of handle 3. The complementary threads 2" and 3" may readily be realized during the molding operations of the respective parts thereof. The squeezable cap-like member 1 which is made of rubber or the like and is of spherical configuration, is seated with the downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 1 thereof, forming part of an inverted cone, against the complementary abutment surfaces 2' in the end-closure member 2. At lower ends of the inwardly and downwardly inclined portions 1' of the squeezable cap-like member 1, there is provided an outwardly extending annular rim portion 1" adapted to engage into annular recess 2a effectively formed by the spacing between the inwardly projecting shoulder of the abutment surfaces 2' and the upper end surfaces of the handle 3. As a result of such an arrangement, a hermetic seal is provided for the upper end of the liquid soap container 3 which may be readily assembled and disassembled, and in which the various parts are made of a material that does full justice to the differing considerations concerning the intended purposes of use and problems of assembly.

To permit outflow of the liquid soap from the container 3 to the sponge generally designated by reference numeral 6, there is provided a conduit system generally designated by reference numeral 4 which includes a downwardly leading conduit section 4, as viewed in FIG- URE 1, extending from the lower end of container 3' toward and near the lower end of the handle 3 where its direction is reversed by 180 by means of the semicircular conduit section 4" continuing into an upwardly leading conduit section 4 that terminates approximately in the center of the length of the sponge element 6 when correctly assembled onto the lower handle section 3 to assure optimum distribution of liquid soap to all parts of the sponge 6. The upwardly leading section 4" is in communication with transverse bores leading radially outwardly within the lower handle portion from the centrally disposed conduit section 4 and being of slightly outwardly flared configuration. The

transversely extending bores are so arranged as to be in communication with the apertured areas left open between the web portions 7 (FIGURE 4) of the elastic sponge-supporting frame generally designated by reference numeral 7. The upwardly leading section 4 is disposed approximately centrally of the lower handle portion so as to assure as even a distribution as possible to all sides of the sponge 6. The downwardly leading section 4, on the other hand, is disposed eccentrically of the circularly shaped lower handle portion.

As seen more clearly in FIGURE 3, the bottom end of the handle 3 is provided with a transversely extending notch 9 intended to engage with a projection 8 (FIG- URES 1 and 4) provided in the bottom of the handle receiving aperture formed by the elastic sponge-supporting frame 7.

Additionally, the handle 3 is provided with an annular groove 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3) and with one or several longitudinally extending guide notches 11 terminating in groove 10 to permit a snap-on-type sponge-retaining engagement with the annular bulge portion 12 provided at the upper end of the elastic sponge supporting frame 7. Additionally, the elastic sponge supporting frame 7 is provided with one or several longitudinally extending complementary nose-like guide portions 13 for engage ment with an equal number of notch or notches 11.

In operation, after assembly of the sponge 6 and its elastic supporting frame 7 onto the lower section of the handle 3, a metered outflow of the liquid soap is possible during washing movements by the arrangement in accordance with the present invention. This metered outflow is made possible by the hermetic closure of the upper end of the liquid container 3 by means of the endclosure member 2 and its squeezeable cap-like member 1. By squeezing the cap-like end member 1, a predetermined amount of liquid soap is displaced from the container 3' through the conduit sections 4', 4", 4" and through bores 5 into the sponge 6. Upon releasing the cap-like member l, the liquid soap present in the bores 5 and in conduit section 4" is withdrawn, and as a result of the hermetically sealed system and the provision of the semi-circularly shaped portion 4 the liquid soap remains Within the conduit system 4 until the next squeezing operation of the cap-like end member 1. The presence of the liquid soap in the semi-circular portion 4" thereby effectively blocks also the entrance of any air to the liquid-soap container 3 irrespective of the position of the handle.

When it is desired to exchange the worn out sponge 6, it is only necessary to apply a force in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1), for example, by displacing the handle 3 out of engagement with the sponge supporting frame 7. Since the sponge supporting frame 7 is made of a material such as plastic material providing a certain flexibility, the projecting clasp or bulge portions 12 that had snapped into engagement with the annular groove 10 may be readily withdrawn out of engagement.

While I have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible of many changes and modifications within the spirit and scope thereof. For example, instead of two transversely extending bores 5, any other suitable number may be provided, it being understood that the number of apertured areas and location within the supporting frame 7 would be changed correspondingly. Additionally, the number and particular guide arrangements 8, 9, ill, 13 may be varied at will within the scope of the present invention as long as the guide arrangements perform the functions indicated hereinabove. Furthermore, such guide function may also be obtained inherently by the configuration of the sponge receiving portion of handle 3 and of the complementary shaped handle receiving aperture formed by the sponge-supporting frame. The shape of the sponge itself may also be varied to assume any desired configuration, and it may be provided with an external mesh-type net made of metallic or plastic threads so as to constitute the sponge as a scrubber.

Thus, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details shown and described herein, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all those changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A combined handle and sponge assembly, compris ing a handle member of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means at said one end for hermetically sealing the same, a sponge-receiving section at the opposite end of said handle, conduit means within the sponge-receiving handle section communicating with said hollow interior and including a first section extending in the direction toward said opposite end adjoined by a substantially oppositely directed second section and substantially transverse bore means in communication with said second section, each substantially transverse bore means being disposed at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections, and removable sponge means on said sponge-receiving handle section.

2. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a handle member of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means secured to said one end for hermetically sealing the same, a sponge-receiving section at the opposite end of said handle, conduit means within the sponge-receiving handle section communicating with said hollow interior and including a first section extending in the direction toward said opposite end adjoined by a substantially oppositely directed second section and substantially transverse bore means in communication with said second section, said second section extending at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections and removable sponge means on said sponge-receiving handle section including elastic supporting frame means effectively provided with aperture means adapted to establish a communication between said transverse bore means and the sponge.

3. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a handle member of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means secured to said one end for hermetically sealing the same, a sponge-receiving section at the opposite end of said handle, conduit means within the sponge-receiving handle section communicating with said hollow interior and including a first section extending in the direction toward said opposite end adjoined by a substantially oppositely directed second section and substantially transverse bore means in communication with second section, said second section extending at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections and removable sponge means on said sponge-receiving handle section including elastic supporting frame means effectively provided with aperture means adapted to establish a communication between said transverse bore means and the sponge, said sponge-receiving handle section and said elastic supporting frame means being provided with complementary engaging and guide means for detachably retaining said sponge at said sponge-receiving handle section while simultaneously assuring alignment between said transverse bore means and said aperture means.

4. A handle structure forming a liquid-soap container adapted to selectively dispense soap to a sponge, said structure comprising a sponge-receiving section adapted to receive said sponge, a handle of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means secured to said one end for hermetically sealing the same, and conduit means in the sponge-receiving handle section opposite said one end including a first section communicating with said hollow interior and extending in the direction toward the opposite end, a substantially oppositely directed second sec tion, a connecting section operatively connecting said first section with said second section, said second section extending at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections and transversely extending bore means in communication with said second section near the end thereof and adapted to communicate with said sponge.

5. A handle structure forming a liquid-soap container adapted to selectively dispense soap to a sponge, said structure comprising a sponge-receiving section adapted to receive said sponge, a handle of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means detachably secured to said one end for hermetically sealing the same including a threadably secured plastic member and a squeezable rubber-like member resting with inclined abutment surfaces thereof against complementary abutment surfaces on said plastic member and removably held in place by elastic rim portions thereof, and conduit means in the sponge-receiving handle section opposite said one end including a first section in communication with said hollow interior and extending in the direction toward the opposite end, a substantially oppositely directed second section, a connecting section operatively connecting said first section with said second section, said second section extending at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections and transversely extending bore means in communication with said second section near the end thereof and adapted to communicate with said sponge.

6. A handle structure forming a liquid-soap container adapted to selectively dispense soap to a sponge, said structure comprising a sponge-receiving section adapted to receive said sponge, a handle of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means secured to said one end for hermetically sealing the same, and conduit means in the sponge-receiving handle section opposite said one end including a first section communicating with said hollow interior and extending in the direction toward the opposite end, a substantially oppositely directed second section, an approximately semi-circular connecting section operatively connecting said first section with said second section, said second section extending at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections and transversely extending bore means in communication with said second section near the end thereof and adapted to communicate with said sponge, said second section being disposed approximately centrally within said sponge-receiving section and said transversely extending bore means being disposed about half-way the length of said sponge receiving section.

7. A handle structure forming a liquid-soap container adapted to selectively dispense soap to a sponge, said structure comprising a sponge-receiving section adapted to receive said sponge, a handle of hollow construction over a part of its length and open at one end thereof, the hollow interior of said handle forming a liquid soap container, squeezable cap-like means detachably secured to said one end for hermetically sealing the same including a threadably secured plastic member and a squeezable rubber-like member resting with inclined abutment surfaces thereof against complementary abutment surfaces on said plastic member and removably held in place by elastic rim portions thereof, and conduit means in the sponge-receiving handle section opposite said one end including a first section communicating with said hollow interior and extending in the direction toward the opposite end, a substantially oppositely directed second section, an approximately semi-circular connecting section operatively connecting said first section with said second section, said second section extending at least a substantial distance in the said opposite direction from the adjoining ends of said first and second sections and References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Apr. 13, 1938 Germany Nov. 26, 1951 

4. A HANDLE STRUCTURE FORMING A LIQUID-SOAP CONTAINER ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY DISPENSE SOAP TO A SPONGE, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING A SPONGE-RECEIVING SECTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID SPONGE, A HANDLE OF HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION OVER A PART OF ITS LENGTH AND OPEN AT ONE END THEREOF, THE HOLLOW INTERIOR OF SAID HANDLE FORMING A LIQUID SOAP CONTAINER, SQUEEZABLE CAP-LIKE MEANS SECURED TO SAID ONE END FOR HERMETICALLY SEALING THE SAME, AND CONDUIT MEANS IN THE SPONGE-RECEIVING HANDLE SECTION OPPOSITE SAID ONE END INCLUDING A FIRST SECTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR AND EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION TOWARD THE OPPO- 